Need Necessary Steps in DDC Classification

[Pritam Kumar Gupta]

Tell me Necessary Steps in DDC library Classification

[Dr. Badan Barman]

For details consult: http://www.netugc.com/library-classification

1. Steps for Classifying with DDC: While doing the classification of a document one should procede to the class number in the following ways

a) Determine the Subject: First, try to determine the subject of the book or document in your hand. The title often provides a clue to the subject, but it should never be the sole source of analysis. The subject which the book deals with can be determined by going through the table of contents, chapter headings, the preface or introduction, and the book jacket or the accompanying materials.

If a work includes multiple subjects, class it under the subject that is being acted upon (rule of application). The rule of application takes precedence over any other rule. For instance, class an analytical work dealing with Shakespeare’ influence on Keats with the subject Keats. Class a work (book) on two subjects with the subjects receiving fuller treatment. If two subjects receive equal treatment, class the work with the subject whose number comes first in the DDC schedules (first-of-two rule). For example, history dealing equally with the United States and Japan, should be classed under history of Japan, because 952 Japan precedes 973 United States (even if in the title of the work United States appears first, and it is discussed first in the contents of the work). Class a work in which three or more subjects are treated equally but are all subdivisions of a broader subject in the first higher number that includes them all (rule of three). For instance, a history of Portugal (946.9), Sweden (948.5), and Greece (949.5) is classed with the history of Europe (940).

b) Determine the Discipline: After determining the subject the classifier should try to determine the disciplinary focus and, if possible, the approach or form of the work.

If a work is dealing with more than one discipline, interdisciplinary number should be provided to the work.

If you are not able to determine the subject and the discipline of the book in hand, you can consult “The Relative Index”. It will help by suggesting the discipline(s) in which a subject is normally treated.

c) Consult the Schedule: The schedules are the only place where all the information about coverage and use of the numbers may be found. So, once the subject has been determined and information on the discipline has been found, the classifier should turn to the schedules. The summaries, headings and notes within the schedules will provide the necessary guidance to arrive at the appropriate class number.

In the schedule of DDC, special headings, notes, and entries indicate relationships among the topics that violate the notational hierarchy. The notes are usually given at the highest level of application. For example, the scope note at 700 applies to 730 to 736 and to 736.4. So, during the process of classifying a document the classifier has to turn the pages up and down.

Even if the classifier has used “The Relative Index”, he should still rely on the structure of the classification schedule to arrive at the proper class number of a work. Even the most promising Relative Index citations must be verified in the schedules.

d) Close and Broad Classification: Close classification means that the content of a work is specified by notation to the fullest extent possible. Broad classification means that the work is placed in a broad class by the use of notation that has been logically abridged. For example, a work on French cooking is classed closely at 641.5944 (641.59 Cooking by place + 44 France from the T1), or broadly at 641.5 (Cooking). The DDC provides the basic options of close versus broad classification. A library should choose between these two option based on the size of its collection and the needs of its users. The abridged edition of the DDC is another source for broad classification.

e) Other Points: It should be noted that DDC uses the convention that no number should have fewer than three digits; zeros are used to fill in the numbers. A decimal point (or dot) follows the third digit in a class number, after which division by ten continues to the specific degree of classification needed. The “dot” is not used as a decimal point in the mathematical sense; it used to ease the transcription and copying of the class numbers.

A number should never end in a zero anywhere to the right of the decimal point. Again, subdivisions beginning with zero should be avoided if there is a choice between zero and 1-9 at the same point in the hierarchy of the notation (rule of zero).

4.4 Examples of Classifying a Document with DDC Summaries: Now let’s try to classify some general books practically, wherein we do not require to use seven tables and the details about the Schedules. For classification of such books, the three summaries of DDC and the Relative Index will be enough. Now, for example, take a book whose name is “A Text Book of Geometry”

Here, in the title, it is very easy and expressive enough to determine the subject. Geometry is the branch of Mathematics and it will come under science. So, go to the first summary wherein you will find “500 Science”, then consult the second summary, wherein under 500 you will find “510 Mathematics”. Now, in the third summary under “510 Mathematics”, you will find “516 Geometry”. Now, consult the schedule for verification. In the schedule also the 516 is for Geometry. So, the class number of the above book will be “516”.

Now, suppose, in lieu of the above approach you want to move from the Relative Index. In such cases, find the word Geometry in the page number 331 of volume 4. Opposite to the word you will find the number “516” in the following format.

Geometry 516

famous problems 516.204

Now consult the schedule for verification. In page number 515 of volume 2, you will find “516 Geometry”, so the class number of the above book will be “516”.

[Anil Kumar Dewangan]

it is better to use the OCLC classification website http://classify.oclc.org/classify2/
but their is no D.D.C. No

[Gurdeep dhaliwal]

u hve to take M P SATIJA book on DDC practice it is very gud book .